Inca Religion

The Inca believed in the idea if people lived a good life, they would live in the sunny part of heaven. But if they lived a bad life, they were forced to the underworld which was cold and had rocks to eat.

• heaven

• the underworld

• the afterlife

• Karma

This was a special festival where mummified emperors were paraded through the streets.

• Festival of the Sun

• Festival of the Dead

• Festival of the Free

• Festival of Lights

These were sacred (special) places or objects to the Inca which could be man-made or natural to the world.

• Huacas

• Cenote

• Caverns

• Caves

This is the name of one god who they felt was the “creator of the universe”.  All other gods/goddesses came from him.

• Pachacamac

• Mama Quilla

• Viracocha

• Wiraqocha

This god has a temple devoted to him in every Inca settlement.

• Illapa

• Mama Quilla

• Inti

• Pachacamac

The Inca believed this substance was the sweat of the sun.

• silver

• iron

• copper

• gold

The Inca believed that silver came

from this moon goddess’  tears.

• Mama Quilla

• Mama Pacha

• Mama Nita

• Mama Cita

This was the name of the most important festival that was held in June. It was nine days in length.

• Festival of Lights

• Festival of the Dead

• Festival of the Sun

• Festival of the Free

This was the god of weather elements. He is often seen with a club in one hand and sling in the other

• Mama Quilla

• Wiraqocha

• Viracocha.

• Illapa

This is what people of Peru still do today to make an offering to Pachamama (Earth-Mother Goddess).

• Perform a rain dance

• Eat 12 grapes for each hour before midnight

• Stomp their feet in the mud of a newly plowed field before seeds are planted

• Spill the first sip of their drink on the ground before drinking it themselves